- Hyundai and Kia to upgrade security in 7 million U.S. vehicles.
- Automakers offer free anti-theft hardware and add immobilizers to new cars.
- Companies to pay up to $9 million to settle multistate theft investigation.
Hyundai and Kia, South Korean automakers, have consented to modify 7 million vehicles in the U.S. to tackle theft issues and will implement prevention devices in all new cars to settle an inquiry led by a bipartisan group of 35 state attorneys general.
The state attorneys general announced that the car manufacturers will provide free zinc-reinforced ignition cylinder protectors to owners of qualifying vehicles, which include those that were previously eligible for the firms’ software updates. They also consented to install engine immobilizer anti-theft technology in all upcoming U.S. vehicles to combat car thefts. Hyundai announced that the hardware upgrade would be available for nearly 4 million cars, whereas Kia indicated it affected approximately 3.1 million vehicles in the U.S.
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Hyundai and Kia will additionally pay as much as $9 million in restitution to consumers and states to help cover the expenses of the investigation. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison stated that the expense of placing ignition cylinder protectors on all qualifying vehicles might surpass $500 million, referencing automaker estimates.
Hyundai stated that concluding the investigation represents further progress in tackling thefts related to specific vehicles from the 2011 to 2022 model years that lack engine immobilizers. “This cooperative agreement builds upon Hyundai’s ongoing efforts to enhance vehicle security in response to a method of theft popularized on social media,” Hyundai said. Eligible consumers will receive notices in early 2026 and will have until the end of March 2027 to have the ignition cylinder protector installed at nearby dealerships.